From concrete to canopy: Illuminating moth biodiversity in New York City\u2019s urban jungle

Investigation of Adoption and Cognizance of Urban Green Spaces in India: Post COVID-19 Scenarios

This paper use the advanced experience of Japan in the area of disaster prevention green space planning and construction and, look at the status, gaps and challenges of China's construction and planning of Green Infrastructure, present the new thinking direction about the construction of disaster prevention green space combine with Green Infrastructure.Taking the construction of the disaster prevention green infrastructure network planning of Majiagou River in Harbin as an example and put forward related strategies.

Green and blue spaces: crucial for healthy, sustainable urban futures

Urban green open space is areas in a city or town filled with vegetation to support socio-ecological functions. These areas have increasingly threatened as a result of being converted to urban infrastructures. As an essential feature of city infrastructure, urban green space should be monitored according to the spatial plan of the city area. However, the space that has been assigned to the urban green space is not a match for its current use. One of the problems that caused urban green space usage mismatch is difficulties in identifying urban green space changes. Planetscope satellite imagery is a high-resolution satellite image that can be used to identify open green spaces in urban areas. In this research, we used an artificial intelligence method to develop a pixel classification process for accurate and efficient identification of the green open space. The results showed that Planetscope satellite imagery and artificial intelligence methods had 99% accuracy in monitoring green open spaces. The use of this technology can assist in the early detection of green open space changes effectively and efficiently.

Providing cities with green urban spaces should be one of the most important goals for city planners, decision-makers and urban designers.The research devised several results to assess the current situation to study urban spaces and green areas, with recommendations on designing and developing urban spaces with more green areas for the city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah.The research is utilizing urban indicators produced from the Urban Observatory of Makkah and compare them with other Urban Observatories' indicators in the Kingdom (Riyadh Observatory -Dammam Observatory -Jeddah Observatory -Taif Observatory -Buraidah Observatory.research problem: In light of the lack of interstitial spaces within the urban cluster of residential areas, the problem lies at the lack of green spaces and open urban spaces within residential areas for residents to practice various life activities.This become more complicated when it comes to areas of high value such (The central area) and the neighboring residential areas, particularly with the increase in the population density and the continuous movement of residents and visitors to Makkah.The aim of the research: Through studying the indicators of the Urban Observatory of Makkah and compare it with other urban observatories in the Kingdom With great concern to the quality of life indicators, the indices of green areas and public open places, the research aims to propose solutions that disseminate a culture of green areas and open urban spaces, besides, to shed light and direct the attention of decision-makers and stakeholders to adopt green concepts that can provide a safe and stable quality of life.Research hypothesis: Although the studies through urban observatories for urban indicators at the Kingdom for green areas and open spaces on the city level are available, these public spaces may not meet the needs of users and lacks the focus on indicators for human needs.Research Methodology: Theoretical study: The research reviews the concepts of green spaces and concepts of quality of life besides studying the goals of establishing urban areas and how to respond to human needs and accommodate the required activities and their contribution to support the concept of the quality of city life.Analytical studies: The research analyses the indicators of the urban observatory in (Makkah Al-Mukarramah) region, focusing on indicators of the quality of life and studies some open urban spaces in some neighborhoods and cities of the Makkah region to identify the needs and patterns of behavior for users in addition to the reasons leading to the use of the space or not.

This study deeply examines the livable environment in high-density cities like Macau, focusing on urban green spaces. The study introduces the “urban spatial naturalness degree” indicator, exploring its application with urban population growth and green space expansion. The research utilizes the planning indicator of “urban spatial naturalness degree”, and then explores the application paradigm of matching increments between urban population growth and green open space and a bottom-line planning indicator suitable for Macau. Among them, the “USND” indicator is defined as “the visual perception rate of blue and green natural elements in the three-dimensional space of urban land”, which is specifically expressed as “the average function of the occupation rate of urban green open space and the visibility rate of blue–green space of main street scenes”. Based on this, this paper estimates the incremental planning indicators of green open space in Macau and various urban areas during the implementation of the Master Plan of Macau (2020–2040). The results show the following: (1) The study found that the land increment in green open space in Macau basically matches the potential of reserve resources. (2) For Class I and Class II urban areas in Macau, the USND value is estimated to be 42.96% and 32.62% in 2040, respectively. These values are expected to reach the international excellent level. (3) For Class III and Class IV urban areas, the USND values could reach 20.14% and 15.14%, respectively, which are considered to be at the international middle level in 2040.

Introduction Blacks have a high burden of poor sleep health outcomes. Environmental determinants, such as green space or open environments, represent an underexplored contributor to sleep burden among Blacks. The extent these environmental factors affect sleep health outcomes within this population has not been adequately explored. To fill this gap in the literature, we investigated associations between environmental factors and sleep outcomes among Blacks in a large urban city. Objectives included (1) examine if zip-code derived open spaces (defined as proportion of open space in residential area,) green spaces (defined as open tree coverage of the ground) and blue spaces (proportion of water space) sleep apnea risk, and insomnia symptoms; (2) Examine if open, blue, and green spaces predict sleep outcomes independent of sex, age, and education level. Methods Our study used data from the Metabolic Syndrome Cohort Study (2009-2014), a studythat examined behavioral intervention methods to improve sleep apnea outcomes among Blacks. Sleep Apnea was assessed with the ARES (apnea risk) scale and insomnia status was collected through self-report (“Do you have difficulty staying/falling asleep or waking up?”) in a subset of 344 participants. Logistic regression analyses were performed to predict the effect green, blue, and open spaces had on sleep outcomes. To account for within zip-code correlation, mixed effects models (unadjusted and adjusted) account for sex, age, and education were considered. Results We found that none of the green, blue, or open space variables predicted sleep outcomes in the unadjusted model. In adjusted models, green space predicted sleep apnea risk scores, (OR=1.03, P<.05), but not insomnia. Conclusion Our study examined the extent which green, blue, and open spaces predicted insomnia and sleep apnea in urban blacks. We found that only green spaces were associated with sleep apnea, and none of our environmental variables predicted insomnia. Given the large amount of literature detailing a complex and multifactorial process on how environment affects sleep outcomes, our findings suggest that the link between urban environments, green spaces, and sleep outcomes may not be as definitive as they seem. Further research should explore the differential effect environment has on diverse populations’ sleep outcomes. Support (If Any) NIH R01HL142066, R01HL095799, RO1MD004113, R01HL152453

BackgroundUrban green open space is a valuable resource for physical activities of urban inhabitants and has the potential to reduce chronic illness and improve health. Research on the relationships between green open space and physical activity is incomplete and limited in China. Thus, the study examines how the urban green open space contributes to physical activity.MethodsA questionnaire was designed based on the social ecology theory to investigate the physical activity of 513 residents in urban green open space. We use the time and frequency of residents exercising in urban green space to measure physical activity, and use the factor analysis to synthesize a large number of original factors (i.e., infrastructure, safety, accessibility, landscape quality, and space environment) into relatively few composite indicators. Based on the collected data of the cross-sectional population, the Order Probit regression model was constructed to analyze how urban green open space affects the residents’ physical activity from the perspective of social ecology.Results① in community factors: accessibility is significantly positive correlation with residents’ physical activity, and there is no significant correlation between safety and physical activity; ②in natural factors: space environment and landscape quality are not significantly correlated with residents’ physical activity; ③ in built environmental factors: infrastructures, the area of green space, the size of open space, and entertainment facilities are significantly correlated to residents’ activity. Basketball courts, volleyball courts, swimming pools, and sports equipment will promote physical activity; ④ apart from the attributes of green open space, other factors are significantly correlated to physical activity in the green open space, e.g. having a companion.ConclusionsUrban green open space plays an important role in promoting physical activity especially among the women and the old, and improving the attributes (such as accessibility, infrastructures, the area of green space, the size of open space and entertainment facilities) of the urban green open space and trying to set up group sports proper to play with companion (like “square dancing” and “Tai Chi”) can promote Chinese residents’ physical activity so as to improve public health. The results are significant to facilitate environment health.

The first lockdown in spring 2020 impacted greatly on Austrians’ daily lives and the general well-being, especially on urban dwellers. The country’s government forbade people to use public spaces, such as city squares or parks. Media were quick to pick up on the subject, which sparked debate on the importance and function of public green recreational spaces in national newspapers. This article maps and reflects on print news coverage of the role and relevance of urban open and green spaces during the first lockdown period in Austria in early spring 2020. The qualitative analysis of reports published in Austria’s leading newspapers showed that two topics were repeatedly covered: (i) the impact of being forced to live in a confined space on the well-being of urban dwellers after parks and public areas were closed; and (ii) functions of open spaces and the relevance of streetscapes in dense urban areas where parks are scarce. The results reveal the importance of public and green spaces for people’s physical and mental health, especially in challenging situations, such as lockdowns. Therefore, urban green spaces ought to be considered as one sector of the country’s critical infrastructure. Considering the way public spaces were dealt with during lockdown, the necessity for an in-depth discussion on and rethink of present urban planning, housing, retrofitting, and mobility practice becomes evident.

This study investigated Chinese Laws on the kind of urban green spaces and the legal requirements for the green spaces of urban habitat and analyzed the specificities of them intending to provide basic data to suggest bringing in or not the relevant Chinese Laws to Korea. This study can be summarized as follows: First, the concept of Chinese urban green spaces(g.s.) classified by 5 kinds(park g.s., production g.s., protection g.s., attachment g.s., the others g.s.) placed the park and green spaces in the same category unlike the Korean urban green spaces that only distinguishes between park and green spaces. The Chinese Urban Park is classified by 4 kinds(composite park, community park, special park, linear park) at the ‘Standard for urban green spaces classification’ which is below in rank of the legal system. Second, in case of calculation for green spaces ratio of urban green spaces in China, the green rooftop landscaping area should not be included as a green spaces area except the rooftop of a basement or semi basement building to which residents have easy access. The green spaces requirements and compulsory secure ratio by 3 habitat kinds(habitat, small habit, minimum habitat) of when to act as a residential plan is regulated. Third, the green spaces system is obligated to establish at habitat green spaces plan and is specified to conserve and improve existing trees and green spaces. The green spaces ratio on reconstruction for old habitat is relaxed to be lower than for new habitat and a gradient of green spaces is peculiarly clarified. The details and requirements for establishment and the minimum area intending for each classes of the central green spaces(habitat park, children park, minimum habitat’s green spaces) are regulated. Especially at a garden style of minimum habitat’s green spaces, intervals between the south and north houses and a compulsory security for green spaces area classifying into two groups(closing type green spaces and open type green spaces) by a middle-rise or high-rise building are clarified. System of calculation for green spaces area is presented at a special regulation. Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture 157 신익순 2 한국조경학회지 제 41권 3호(2013년 6월) Fourth, a general index(area/person) of public green spaces within habitat to achieve by 3 habitat kinds is determined, in this case, the index on reconstruction for a deterioration zone can be relaxed to be lower to the extent of a specified quantity. A location and scale, minimum width and minimum area per place of public green spaces are regulated. A space plot principle including adjacent to a road, greening area ratio against total area, security of open space and the shadow line boundary of sunshine are also regulated to intend for public green spaces. Fifth, the minimum horizontal distance between the underground cables and the surrounding greening trees are regulated as the considerable items for green spaces when setting up the underground cables. The principle to establish green spaces within public service facilities is regulated according to the kind of service contents. It shall be examined in order to import or not the special regulations that only exist in Chinese Laws but not in Korean Laws. The result of this study will contribute to gain the domestic landscape architect’s’ sympathy of the research related to Chinese urban green spaces laws requiring immediate attention and will be a good chance to advance into the internationalization of Korean Landscape Architectural Laws.

Green spaces in Ghana’s built environment: Analyzing perceptions and urban planning perspectives through the lens of the New Environmental Paradigm

Today, one in two people live in urban environments, and this number is expected to rise. Urban ecology is among the main concepts of the ecological urban planning agenda for cities where the consequences of global warming and climate change are increasing day by day. Urban open green spaces provide a variety of ecosystem services for city dwellers. It is important that green spaces are accessible, efficient, walkable and properly planned in the city. Within this framework, via the relevant theoretical evaluation, a conceptual framework was constructed to redefine the urban neighborhood green index. Regarding the existing definitions within the related literature, this developed index includes quantitative, qualitative and perceptual parameters and has been newly introduced to measure and analyze green spaces in a more comprehensive layout. There is also a need to establish an ecological approach to urban planning to increase the quantity and quality of urban green spaces in Cyprus, including in Northern Nicosia. Therefore, Northern Nicosia, with its three selected neighborhoods, was chosen as the study area. As the main methodology of the study, a thorough assessment of the quantitative component of the developed index with its four parameters of per-capita green space, proximity to green space, area percentages and type of green spaces is made. Maps from the Town Planning Department and satellite images from the Nicosia Turkish Municipality and GIS were used for this quantitative measurement. Based on the findings, it can be argued that the urban green spaces are not sufficient when assessed based on most of the parameters evaluated within the study to construct a comprehensive green space index. It was found that the green spaces in the city are accessible, being within 337 m, which is reasonable. However, there are very few active and accessible open green areas in these neighborhoods within the 300 and 500 m buffers, as a remarkable number of the green spaces, which are shown on the map, are in an abandoned condition. In addition, the amount of active green space per capita is 3.35 m2, which is well below the 9 m2 predicted by WHO. The area percentages of the neighborhoods are also below the required standards. Therefore, the findings show that Northern Nicosia can benefit by addressing these deficiencies to achieve a higher urban neighborhood green index. Furthermore, the theoretical model is efficient for the assessment of urban spaces at the neighborhood scale and can be used in other cities worldwide, especially in cities with a relatively low density. In sum, this study, which considered not only the quantitative parameters but also the qualitative and perceptual features, has the potential to expand scientific knowledge on measuring and analyzing urban neighborhood green spaces.

This study simulates and predicts the urban environment growth in the Tehran, capital of Iran, using the remote sensing data, multi-layer perceptron neural network, zonal, trend, and profile modeling. A spatial-temporal modeling was used for the analysis and prediction of the urban environment development. After building the probability map of the land changes, random points scatter and kernel analysis (RPSKA) was used. The pixel values of all the maps was extracted to the random points for the scatter plot and kernel analysis. The results obtained by developing the change transition model using multi-layer perceptron neural network showed high accuracy in most of the sub-models. The area of the open lands and green spaces was reduced, and urban areas, agricultural lands, and clay plains were increased. Most of the land use and land cover (LULC) changes during the period 1990–2000 were observed in the north, while the most land use and land cover changes during the period 2000–2016 were observed in the west. The results of RPSKA were shown the direct and inverse relationship between the probability of land changes and the other factor maps. Sever changes have occurred from the open lands to the urban areas. The slope and the population density had more effect on the changes. Modeling of future LULC change showed that the urban areas would be increased, while open lands and green spaces would be decreased. These land changes have taken place in the north and west of the city that these regions were most popular and had suitable infrastructures for developments.

Nature-based solutions for urban landscapes under post-industrialization and globalization: Barcelona versus Shanghai

Effects of vegetation structure and environmental characteristics on pollinator diversity in urban green spaces